Game-Changing Insights: Behind the Masterful Basketball Scenes in Season 2 of Winning Time

Summary

Salli Richardson-Whitfield, who took the helm as director for some of the episodes, sheds light on the meticulous process of recreating vintage footage and incorporating innovative elements to enrich the intensity of the basketball scenes.

Season 2 of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty explores the prominent theme of fatherhood, as characters like Jerry Buss and Pat Riley navigate their roles as fathers while overcoming the challenges of building a championship team. The rivalry between the Lakers and Boston Celtics intensifies as both teams compete for the championship trophy, with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson taking center stage. Alongside this rivalry, the Lakers also face various obstacles such as injuries, players becoming fathers, and ongoing growing pains, even after their historic win during Jerry Buss and Magic Johnson's inaugural year with the team.

Jeff Pearlman's book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s served as the inspiration for Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht in creating the series Winning Time. Alongside executive producers Kevin Messick and Salli Richardson-Whitfield, the show features a star-studded cast led by John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, Jason Clarke, Adrien Brody, Gaby Hoffmann, Tracy Letts, Jason Segel, Solomon Hughes, and Tamera Tomakili.

In an interview with Screen Rant, executive producers Kevin Messick and Salli Richardson-Whitfield discussed the upcoming season 2 of Winning Time. Richardson, who directed episodes 1, 6, and 7, shared insights into her approach to filming the basketball scenes and selecting which games to showcase in the new season. Messick also delved into the themes of fatherhood and praised Sean Patrick Small's portrayal of the legendary Larry Bird. It is important to note that this article was written during the SAG-AFTRA strike and acknowledges the contribution of WGA and SAG-AFTRA writers and actors in making the show possible.

Kevin Messick & Salli Richardson-Whitfield Talk Winning Time Season 2

Screen Rant: Winning Time season 2 has been my most anticipated show, and it certainly delivers. The basketball scenes, particularly Salli's performance, are exceptional. Salli, as the director of several episodes, including the Lakers/Celtics scenes, can you share your approach to preparing for these basketball scenes?

Sali Richarson-Whitfield: I really appreciate that. Preparing for the basketball scenes is similar to handling a large action sequence. We begin with tone meetings to determine the desired emotions we want to convey. We study old footage to understand how we can recreate it authentically. Through rehearsals, we carefully analyze the old footage and strive to replicate it, ensuring it looks genuine, like something you would find on YouTube. Additionally, we aim to incorporate the narrative and delve deeper into the story surrounding these scenes.

"What is the phenomenon that remains uncharted by anyone? What transpired during the huddle? What unspoken communication passed between Magic and Kareem, or between Magic and Bird across the court?" And I believe it's these moments that generate the excitement. Additionally, we incorporate our skater, utilize a car fitted with a camera, and employ 10 other cameras. This has truly been the most demanding endeavor of my life, causing immense stress.

Having played basketball in school and possessing a deep passion for the game, I am committed to its enhancement. Throughout the summer following the previous season, the cinematographer and I pondered on how to elevate it to new heights. I believe we have successfully achieved that goal.

You always deliver 100%. Kevin, fatherhood is a major theme this season, and it deeply impacts the various characters in different ways. Can you discuss this recurring theme that runs throughout the entire season?

Kevin Messick: Absolutely. I believe that our writers, Max, Rodney, and Jim, effectively utilized the real-life stories to create a beautiful narrative around fatherhood. We see this in Buss' journey of becoming a father and establishing a family dynasty, while also dealing with conflicting emotions towards his daughter and two sons who are becoming involved in the business. Furthermore, Pat Riley's character is haunted by his past, specifically the actions of his son that we were introduced to last season through the portrayal by Adrien Brody, in contrast to his own father's limited accomplishments.

Both Magic and Kareem, who are both parents, are featured in this season, making it a common occurrence, right? Even Jeanie's character contributes to this theme with a powerful line from one of her brothers – "You'll never be daddy's favorite son." This theme runs throughout the season, adding to the dramatic tension, and it is inspired by real-life relevance.

Now, Sali, did this season attempt to cover four NBA seasons? With only seven episodes, was it challenging to determine which seasons to include?

Sali Richardson-Whitfield: The main objective was to focus on the Celtics and Lakers, as that's what audiences are interested in. We chose to skip ahead several seasons to ensure we reached that point. It was a challenge to maintain a clear storyline throughout these leaps in time. However, our priority was to deliver what people were eagerly anticipating, which is seeing Magic, Bird, and the intense rivalry between them. Kevin can provide more insight on this.

Kevin Messick: Initially, both characters have a strong desire to compete against each other, but real-life circumstances prevent them from doing so until 1984. We see this desire surface during their first encounter in college where Magic emerges as the winner. From that point on, Bird is determined to have a rematch, which finally happens in '84, even though Bird achieves victory and wins a championship before that event unfolds, as you may already be aware.

I would also like to discuss the character of Paul Westhead, as I believe he undergoes a significant transformation from season 1 to season 2. Can you elaborate on Paul Westhead's story and possibly explore how success may have affected his ego, leading to conflicts with the front office and those around him?

Kevin Messick: Certainly, we have provided companion guides for this season that include excerpts from Paul's autobiography and accounts from that period. They reveal that despite his championship-winning coaching role, success did not necessarily lead to wise decision-making on his part. It became evident through clashes with Buss and, notably, in a well-known confrontation with Magic, where he ultimately suffered defeat.

The outcome was not favorable at the time, as it was extensively reported in the local newspapers and by sports journalists that a player had the ability to influence the removal of a coach. While not as scandalous by today's standards, it was considered groundbreaking back then, I believe.

Sali, since you have experience playing basketball, you understand the significance of team chemistry. This season, team chemistry has been a focal point, especially with Magic's absence and the team needing to establish their rhythm, only for him to later return but not quite fit in seamlessly. Can you elaborate on that?

Sali Richardson-Whitfield: It's unclear whether you had a chance to review the companion guide, but many people are unaware of the fact that despite their past success, the resurgence of Magic, like LeBron's return, can actually create some disruption. However, the team understood the importance of Magic for the future and believed that it was necessary to overcome the challenges in order to have their star back in the role and in sync with the team.

This season, we are fortunate to witness an incredible performance by Larry Legend, portrayed by the transformative Sean Patrick Small. When I first saw him, I couldn't help but wonder if it was a well-executed deep fake of Larry Bird. What unique qualities did he bring to the character that weren't evident on the script?

Kevin Messick expresses that in season 1, Sean was portrayed as a confrontational and antagonistic character, which served as a contrast to Magic. However, in the current season, Sean's character is explored more deeply, revealing his background and the difficult circumstances he faced at the beginning of his career. It is revealed that he had left Bobby Knight and had considered not returning to school to pursue basketball. This added depth to his character not only enhances the viewing experience for existing fans but also contributes to the development of the iconic character he ultimately becomes. The aim was for the final encounter between Sean and Magic to showcase two fully developed characters, transcending the simplistic dynamic of hero versus villain and instead portraying them as complex individuals.

Sali Richardson-Whitfield: Initially, he is portrayed as the antagonist in the first season. However, it is crucial for us to gain insight into his true intentions. This understanding of both characters adds an element of enjoyment to their rivalry.

About Winning Time Season 2

Building on the Lakers' remarkable season led by Jerry Buss' groundbreaking leadership, the team is eager to maintain their winning momentum by triumphing over their archenemies, the iconic Boston Celtics. Alongside confronting challenges both on and off the court, the legendary rivalries between Jerry Buss and Red Auerbach, as well as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, intensify.

Check out our other Winning Time season 2 interviews here:

Quincy Isaiah & Adrien Brody

Jason Segel & Solomon Hughes

Michael Chiklis & Sean Patrick Small

John C. Reilly & Hadley Robinson

Max Borenstein & Rodney Barnes

Winning Time debuts on HBO on August 6.

Source: Screen Rant Plus